Characters Fading

"Come here slave!"

Katara gripped Zhao's wrist as he dragged her across his office. She gasped in pain as he slammed her against the nearest wall. He wasn't strangling her, but she knew that would soon follow if she began to struggle. She met his gaze, schooling her features.

"Do you wish to know how it was I found out you were a water bender?" He grinned at her. "A filthy Water Tribe peasant." he chuckled. "Your own people betrayed you. I barely had to torture him which shows just how weak your people are."

Anger surged deep within Katara and she pushed at his shoulders. He barely budged. "Let go!" She growled.

Zhao laughed. "That's the spirit!" He growled. He dragged her against the floor again. "Only the one with great heart, hope, and spirit shall open the box." he recited as he stopped in front of the box of Ame-no-Mi-Kumari. He released her throat and towered over her.

"Open the box."

Katara moved onto her knees and glared up at Zhao. "No."

He growled and backhanded her. "Open the box!"

Katara's head snapped back from the blow. She turned to face him again, a glare on her face. "No!"

He growled and grabbed both her arms. He tightened his grip as she began to struggle. He dragged her closer toward the box.

Panic surged deep within Katara as she tried to push herself away from the box. "No!" She shouted. "Stop it! Let me go!" She struggled as she tried to yank her arms from his grip.

Zhao tightened his grip and pulled her closer. He slammed both of her hands onto the box and Katara gasped out loud from the sudden rush of power she felt.

The latches on the box suddenly began to snap open one by one. The lid shot open and a blue orb of light slowly began to lift from the box.

Zhao shielded his eyes as the orb's shine brightened to blinding proportions. The orb suddenly shot into Katara and knocked her onto her back. She flailed on the ground for a moment, the blue light suddenly shinning from her eyes. He stared entranced. Suddenly, the flailing stopped and the light faded.

She lied there, panting and staring blindly up at the ceiling.

"You draw strength from the moon and life from the ocean."

Zhao stepped toward the box, and he smirked as his eyes caught sight of what he had been searching for. He reached inside and pulled out the blue scroll. "Finally." He said softly. "Finally I hold the key to the end of that wretched tribe!" He scanned the document, his grin falling as he realized the characters on the scroll began to fade.

"No!" He growled. He crumbled the scroll in his hands and glanced down at Katara, his eyes widening as he noticed strange symbols appearing as tattoos on her arms. "No!"

Katara slowly moved onto her feet and lifted her arms, staring down at the tattoos in shock. "What-" She trailed off as she noticed Zhao coming toward her. Thinking quickly, she called the tea from the teapot and formed a perfect water whip. She snapped the whip, aiming for Zhao's face as she did.

Zhao stumbled back in surprise as he felt the fierce sting of her water whip. He touched his cheek and brought up his fingers to expect. He raised an eyebrow when he noticed blood coated his fingers. He lifted a flaming hand. "Now where did you learn that?" He asked softly.

Katara, wearing a fierce expression, did not answer. She merely lifted her hand again, going through a familiar, yet difficult motion. She snapped her hand out and ice daggers flew from her fingers toward Zhao. He blocked her easily, lifting his hand and melting the ice before it could rich him.

"Is that all you have?" He asked amused. "Incase you didn't know, a fire bender is always his strongest during the day time." He lifted his hand, and released a jet of fire at her. However, he felt as a giant wall of fire blocked its path.

"I remembered."

Zhao turned and glared at Ryu, who stood in the door ready for another attack.

"You!" Zhao said with a frown.

Ryu nodded. "Me." He said before blasting another stream of fire toward Zhao.

Katara stumbled out of the way as the two men began to engage each other. She knew Ryu had mentioned that fire sages were one of the most powerful fire benders, but she had no idea he was that skilled. She lifted her arms to call more liquid before her, but she found that she could not. She felt so drained. She backed up further, her back hitting a wall full of weapons as she did. She turned and surveyed her choices. She reached for a shield.

Ryu lifted his arms, creating blazing fire arcs toward Zhao. His eyes widened as he lost his footing and stumbled backward. He knocked his head against a wooden end table. His vision swam in front of him.

Zhao grinned and stepped forward, raising a flaming fist as he did. "You're going to regret-" He trailed off and his eyes widened in surprise as Katara swung the metal shield at his head again, rendering him unconscious.

Ryu moved out of the way as Zhao collapsed next to him. "Whoa." He said. He shook his head and hopped up. "That was close." he glanced at Katara as she tossed the shield onto the floor. "Good swinging." He said softly. He paused as she leaned heavily against him. "When did you have time to stop and get tattoos?" He asked. "Little one?"

Katara merely shook her head. "We have to go before he wakes up." She said.

Ryu turned serious and he grabbed her hand. "Lets go."

*****

"We're going to the hull." Ryu explained as they made their way down the stairs.

"There's a latch that leads directly into the water. We'll have to swim for it."

Katara merely nodded as she followed him, struggling to keep up at his fast pace. She was tired. So drained. But she wouldn't stop. Not until she was off of this ship.

They finally reached the hull and Ryu quickly bent down to open the hatch. He glanced at Katara. "We have to jump in little one. Surface and then swim the short distance to shore."

As soon as she entered the water she felt incredibly rejuvenated. She quickly swam to the surface, emerging with a loud gasp. She panted and glanced behind her as Ryu emerged a few moments later. They both looked up as a horn was finally sounded.

"Lets go!" Ryu yelled and they began swimming toward shore.

********

Katara was pleasantly surprised to see Ryu had planned ahead and packed a bunch of supplies and personal belongings, water bending scroll included. She smiled as she hugged the scroll to herself before placing it back into the bag Ryu packed for her.

"These giant rocks should cover us so we can rest for a few moments." Ryu explained as he dropped their packs onto the floor. "I've led a crazy enough trail so they'd be too confused as to where we are. Once we're out of these woods we should be in the clear. " He grinned. "What do you think-" He trailed off as he was suddenly arms full of Katara.

She was shaking, he realized. "Little one?"

"Thank you." She said her voice hoarse from tears.

Ryu returned her hug with a small smile. "It was nothing Katara. I'd only wish it had been sooner."

She shook her head as she pulled away from the hug. "Maybe it wasn't the right time until now." She looked down at her arms with a slight smile.

"I have to say, those tattoos make you look pretty tough. How'd you get those exactly?"

Ryu asked softly.

Katara sat beside him as she held out her arms. "The box." She explained. "When it opened these just appeared." She didn't explain the overwhelming feeling of power she had felt.

Ryu traced the strange symbols. "It looks like code." He said. "I wonder what it means."

Katara looked down at the symbols with a small smile. She pointed to the bend of her arm. "Well, I know this is the symbol for Water Tribe." She said, pointing to the familiar symbol of the ocean and moon.

Ryu nodded and pointed to her right wrist. "Look at that. It kind of looks like a Koi fish."

Katara's eyes widened as she realized it looked like one of the two Koi fish she had dreamed of. She slowly lowered her arms and turned to face her friend. "He isn't going to stop looking for me." She said softly.

Ryu shook his head. "No." he agreed softly. "He won't."

Katara slowly let out a shaky breath. "I also know he isn't going to stop his plan of attacking the Northern Water Tribe." Even if his plan was foiled. She knew he would not stop until he succeeded in destroying her people. She drew in a determined breath. "I know what I have to do." She said softly. She reached inside her tunic and pulled out her mother's necklace. She tied it around her neck as she said her next words. "I have to travel to the Northern Water Tribe and warn them of Zhao's plans. I will fight beside them."

Ryu smiled at the fierce determination in Katara's eyes. He slowly smiled and stood up.

"Lets go then." He reached down and handed Katara her sleeping bag then reached down and grabbed his own larger pack.

****

"Hello friend."

Iroh stared up at the blue dragon as he danced for him. "You've imparted knowledge to my nephew." He spoke softly. "I am sorry to say that he does not yet understand."

The dragon continued to dance for a few moments before answering. "Of course he does not." It answered. "He will in time."

Iroh nodded in agreement. "Yes." He said. "But perhaps you can help me understand what it is he must understand?"

The dragon ceased it's dancing and stopped in front of Iroh. He whispered two words.

"Agni's Fire."

Iroh's eyes slid open with a gasp. He stared at the burning candles in front of him, a small smile coming onto his features. "Very interesting indeed."

******

"Sir we don't know which way the escapees went. We have three teams spread out into the forest."

Zhao slowly stood up from his seat. "Good. They can't have gone far." He said softly. That slave is going to regret running away from him.

TBC